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Friday, November 30, 2012

hi guys! happy Friday! If you have not yet entered the GIVEAWAY, you can do so here. All you need to do is comment with your entry and I will be picking a winner next Wednesday.

So, today is a very special day. Today, is my sweet husband's birthday. We are celebrating with dinner tonight at the Melting Pot. I've never been before, but I've heard that it's amazing. I'm ready to chow down and have my first real fondue experience. Mmmm... cheesy!

Speaking of cheese, this spicy chipotle mac & cheese is pretty amazing. It's got a kick, that's for sure. It's a really simple recipe, and surprising healthy. At least, it's healthy for macaroni and cheese. In fact the original recipe came from Cooking Light. I adjusted the recipe quite a bit though, given my opposition to bell peppers and onions. But the end result is pretty tasty if I can say so myself. It's also husband approved.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

If you were brave enough to go shopping yesterday morning - my hat's off to you. I stayed inside, worked on a few crafts, and pretended not to be home when people came to my door to sell things {did I just admit that? (In my defense, I'm a bit paranoid and never answer the door when the husband is out.)}.

So whether you got up at oh-dark-thirty yesterday to shop, or stayed home like me, here is a way to get a steal of a deal without leaving the house.

In celebration of 50 GFC followers, I am hosting a little giveaway to show my appreciation.

I've put together a few goodies that are sure to come in handy this holiday season...

1.Food Made Fast One Pot meals by Williams Sonoma. This small, hard cover cook book has tons of great meal ideas that are easy to make, and use one pot (easy cleanup, hurray!).

2. I don't know about you, but I am in love with all those cute little paper straws I've seen on blogs and around Pinterest. These red and green striped ones will be perfect to celebrate in style this holiday season.

3. Brrrr! It's cold out there. Cozy up to the fire with this retro hot cocoa mix. I LOVE the Rudolph movie and couldn't resist this cute little tin.

4. Lastly, in the true nature of this blog, I had to include something baking related. Considering my latest party go-to has been cupcakes, I found these adorable snowflake and reindeer cupcake liners and little flags.

Keep everything for yourself, or give something away, it's your choice. I have no qualms with re-gifting :)

Here are the deets:
There are up to 4 entries available per person. Leave a separate comment for each entry. I will use a random number generator to get our lucky winner.

** This giveaway is only open to US residents of the 48 contiguous states.

Apologies to my friends living outside those boundaries.**

Good luck! And again, thank you so very much! Reading comments and getting to know fellow bloggers has made this whole experience so much more fun. I didn't expect that when I started. I thought I would photograph my projects, write a little blurb, and be happy knowing that I had cataloged my domestic adventures. I never imagined the sense of community I would feel. It's been incredible.

UPDATE: The lucky winner is Karri. I will be emailing you for your address tonight :)

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Today, as you sit around the table and prepare to indulge in
the annual favorites - sweet potatoes with marshmallows, mashed potatoes with
extra butter, cornbread sausage stuffing, pumpkin pie, and of course the crème de
la crème , turkey – I hope you take time to consider what it really means to
give thanks.

Being thankful is not reserved for a particular Thursday in
November. Nor is it just something you think about before a meal, or maybe at
the end of the day. Gratitude should be reflected in the way you think, act, and react, everyday.

In my life I am loved by so many wonderful people. I have
always had more than what I needed. And I’ve never had more than I could
handle. I know I haven’t earned even half of the blessing in my life, which
leads me to believe that there is someone to be thankful to.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love
endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A few things... First, a big THANKS to everyone who follows this blog. I just hit 50 followers! And while that may not be much to some people, it seriously means a lot to me. Second, in thanks for everyone who has followed my little blog, I will be hosting a giveaway very soon. More to come in the next few days. Third, I was recently nominated for a blogger award by my dear friend Katie at Unwritten. I feel so lucky to be nominated for the Liebster Award. "Liebster" means darling or beloved person in German.

The rules are as follow:

1. List 11 facts about yourself.

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.

3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.

4. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.

5. Go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award.

11 Facts:

1. I LOVE the color green.

2. I am very competitive (although most people don’t think so until they play a game with me).

3. I lived in the same house until I was 18.

4. I don’t particularly like cake, but I love cupcakes.

5. I lead a small group of high school girls at my church.

They make me feel young and old at the same time.

6. I was the captain of my varsity tennis team in high school.

7. My husband and I met at church, nearly 7 ½ years ago.

8. I am {not-so-secretly} celebrity obsessed.

It is my guilty pleasure.

9. I love the smell of asphalt after the rain. I also just love the rain.

10. I put garlic on {nearly} EVERYTHING.

11. I would love to have my own business… someday.

Katie’s Questions:

1. What was your first car?

A 1996 Forest Green Volvo sedan. We just sold it last year.

2. What is your drink of choice at Starbucks (or anywhere)?

I change it up a lot. In the summer I love unsweetened iced green teas or upside down iced caramel macchiattos. In the cooler months I like vanilla soy lattes or other flavored lattes (lately I’ve been getting Pumpkin Spice but with not as much pumpkin)

3. What is the first thing you do when you turn on your computer?

I check my email. Even though I check it a bunch on my phone throughout the day. Then I go to Blogger. Then Facebook. Then Pinterest.

4. What is your favorite cake? White or Chocolate cake? Or are you a Carrot cake fan?

Well given my random fact #4, I don’t particularly care for cake (even though I bake all the time). But I prefer chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, or red velvet. My husband is a carrot cake person.

5. What is your favorite verse or quote?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be renewed by the transforming of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:10-13

6. What song can you listen to over and over again?

Anything by The Shins.

7. Ross, Chandler, or Joey?

That’s a tough one, but probably Chandler. I did name my dog after him.

8. What is a perfect day for you?

Waking up naturally, “pinning” on the couch or in bed while watching t.v., making a delicious breakfast.

Followed by a few hours of crafting, cooking, baking, and/or blogging. Going for a walk with my husband and pup.

An hour at a coffee shop for a little bible study, then meeting up with friends for dinner and game night. A perfect day!

9.Where did you get married/want to get married?

I got married outside at a golf course in northern San Diego. You can read about it here.

It was in front of a gazebo and completely surrounded by flowered hedges.

10. Which do you prefer-Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter?

Fall is my favorite. Along with smiling.

11. What has become your favorite thing about blogging?

I love that it gives me the motivation to try new things and actually do stuff so I can post about it on my blog.

It’s also been wonderful “meeting” so many great people.

My Questions

1. What is your favorite holiday food?

2. What would your dream house/apartment/condo look like?

3. If you could live a day in the life of another person (any time, place, etc) who would it be and why?

4. What is your favorite childhood memory?

5. Salty, sweet or savory?

6. How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

7. What places are on your travel bucket list? (Places you just have to see someday)

Friday, November 16, 2012

Last night the smell of vanilla candles filled my small
condo. It was cold outside, and my pup Chandler was buried beneath a throw
blanket on the couch. Cupcakes were baking in the oven and I was mixing up some
salted caramel butter cream frosting. I was in my element.

I love my alone time when I am working on a project –
baking, crafting, even blogging. It’s relaxing but because I am doing something,
there’s a sense of accomplishment.

The candles burning last night were in my new mason
jar candle holders that I made last weekend. I did this same project last year
and liked it so much I knew I had to make another one. It is such an easy craft and I think it is
adorable.

Monday, November 12, 2012

I've taken these delicious pumpkin cookies to several different parties over the years and they are always a hit. They're not quite cookie texture - some people have called them scones since their shape is similar, but these are very moist and almost cake/bread like. They're not overly sweet, but still a perfect treat for a cool fall day. Drizzled with a little icing and they're not bad to look at either.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

You know those things you talk about doing but never actually do? You’ve tried time and time again, but somehow each time you always fall a little bit short. Yet no matter how many times you’ve tried (and failed) you keep at it, each time saying, “This time will be different. This time I will actually accomplish my goal.”

Well folks, I’m here to tell you, this time will be different. This year, I am going to accomplish my goal: complete my Christmas shopping before December. I say it each and every year. And not because I am one of those super-organized people who like to have everything done ahead of time. Believe me, I’m not. When it comes to work, yessometimes most of the time. But in my day to day life I am a last minute, put makeup on in the car, buy the gift on the way to the party type of gal.

No, I set this goal each year because I know finishing my shopping early would hugely de-stress my life. Let me explain, I am horrible at getting gifts for people. Every once in a while I will come up with a great gift idea. Usually at the most inopportune time, like smack dab in the middle between the person’s birthday and Christmas. But most of the time I am at a complete loss for what to get people. It seriously stresses me out.

Last year I did not even come close to accomplishing my goal. In large part because I was so busy planning my husband’s surprise birthday party and my bestie’s bachelorette party. It was a very busy time of year...